Tonight's Movie: Cloak and Dagger (1946) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

I'm gearing back up on disc reviews following my recent time off!

First up is Fritz Lang's CLOAK AND DAGGER (1946) from Kino Lorber's newly released Dark Side of Cinema XXI collection.

I previously reviewed the same set's SHACK OUT ON 101 (1955), which I thoroughly enjoyed, and CLOAK AND DAGGER was another winner for me.

CLOAK AND DAGGER is a lesser-known film which is considered by many to be "minor Lang," but I seem to like minor Lang films, another example being the following year's SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (1947).

CLOAK AND DAGGER was produced by United States Pictures and released by Warner Bros. It's interesting to note that the story bears considerable resemblance to O.S.S. (1946), a Paramount Pictures film released the very same year, including featuring a multinational group of spies and a similarly uncertain ending. O.S.S. starred Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald.

In CLOAK AND DAGGER Gary Cooper plays Professor Alvah Jesper, a nuclear scientist recruited by the O.S.S. to travel to Switzerland and make contact with a Hungarian counterpart (Helene Thimig) who has been working on a nuclear bomb with the Germans but has escaped into Switzerland. The Allies are hoping to learn the extent of German progress towards a bomb.

Although Jesper makes his initial contact with the scientist, she is tragically killed, and Jesper is next instructed to travel to Italy and make contact with another physicist (Vladimir Sokoloff).

While in Italy Jesper is aided by underground fighters Pinkie (Robert Alda) and Gina (Lilli Palmer). During the perilous mission Jesper and Gina begin to fall for one another.

As evidenced by its similarity to O.S.S., this is a fairly standard WWII spy story, but I nonetheless found it engaging and enjoyed watching it. It's a well-paced, interesting story with appealing lead actors.

I can run hot and cold on Cooper, but he struck me as just right here for a mild-mannered man of science turned action man in service of his country. Cooper believably develops from a man at home on a university campus to someone who must kill to survive. He would later play a somewhat similar character as a man who unexpectedly finds himself commanding a ship during the war in YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW (1951).

Earlier this year I really liked Lilli Palmer in my first viewing of BODY AND SOUL (1947), which incidentally I'll be revisiting soon thanks to Kino Lorber's new Blu-ray release. CLOAK AND DAGGER is my second Palmer film, and I continued to very much enjoy her; she's moving as a woman whose wartime work and losses have understandably left her emotionally troubled.

Second-billed Alda is dashing as an underground fighter but doesn't have much back story to speak of; he adds some color, but for the most part the movie relies on Cooper and Palmer's relationship developing against its wartime backdrop to carry this 106-minute film.

A trio of actors from the recently reviewed CONFLICT (1945) appear in the film, including Marjorie Hoshelle (seen here), Patrick O'Moore, and James Flavin. The cast is rounded out by Dan Seymour, Marc Lawrence, and J. Edward Bromberg. Among the bit players in the large cast are Robert Coote, Lex Barker, Rory Mallinson, Janet Shaw, and Ross Ford.

The script was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Albert Maltz based on a book about the O.S.S. cowritten by novelist Alistair MacLean. It was filmed in black and white by Sol Polito. The movie has an evocative score by Max Steiner.

Kino Lorber's print is from an HD master from a 4K scan. The print occasionally has faint vertical lines but overall is quite acceptable, especially given the film's relative rarity. I did note that I had to turn the sound on my TV up much higher than normal in order to hear the dialogue well.

Extras consist of a commentary track by Heath Holland (Cereal at Midnight) and Max Allan Collins, plus a gallery of three trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

It's worth noting that the cover art for the Blu-ray case insert, seen in the image near the bottom of this post, is especially outstanding.

CLOAK AND DAGGER may not be "film noir," per se, but who cares when we have the chance to own it for home viewing thanks to its inclusion in this set?! I liked it very much.

I'll be reviewing the final film in this collection, SHORT CUT TO HELL (1957), at a future date.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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Quick Preview of TCM in December

Here's a brief look ahead at what's coming to Turner Classic Movies this holiday season!

The December Star of the Month will be Mickey Rooney. Around 60 of Rooney's films will be shown in day-long marathons in December, including 16 Andy Hardy movies the day after Christmas.

This year's Christmas movie marathon is a bit shorter than last year's, which began December 17th; it will begin the evening of December 20th and run through Christmas Day.

Additional Christmas films will run on weekend afternoons.

There's a "ghostly" theme on Christmas Night, with films including TOPPER (1937), CABIN IN THE SKY (1943), and BLITHE SPIRIT (1945). TOPPER is seen here with Roland Young, Cary Grant, and Constance Bennett.

The daytime hours on New Year's Eve will be spent with Nick and Nora Charles in the THIN MAN movie series, followed by an evening of films which feature New Year's Eve as part of the story. REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947), a big favorite of mine, is among the films in the New Year's Eve lineup.

December's Noir Alley titles will include NAKED ALIBI (1954), ACT OF VIOLENCE (1949), and THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946). One title is yet to be announced. Noir Alley will take the weekend off during the Christmas movie marathon.

The TCM Spotlight on Mondays will have a fun "Party" theme. Some of the films shown will include OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928), MADAM SATAN (1930), and PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND (1963).

Daytime themes in December include the South Seas, marriage, pirates, Africa, wilderness adventure films, and "1930s Women in Trouble."

Of note: While TCM typically features World War II films on Pearl Harbor Day, this year December 7th falls on a Sunday and TCM will stick to regular weekend programming, including Christmas films.

A memorial tribute to Maggie Smith will take place on December 10th. Additional memorial tributes to several filmmakers who have died this year will take place on December 27th.

Other filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in December will include Laurence Olivier, Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, George Stevens, and Frank Sinatra.

There are still quite a few blank spots in the schedule, so stay tuned for the most complete schedule info, which will be published here at the end of November.

In the meantime, Ruth Roman will be up next as the November Star of the Month!

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...I'm back from a great trip to the Lone Pine Film Festival, as well as spots further north on Highway 395, followed almost immediately by our oldest son's wedding and related events. Catching up on my day job, not to mention watching Dodgers postseason baseball, has meant it's taken me a while to get up and running here again. (Seen in the photo is Mist Falls, found on the road to Lake Sabrina outside Bishop, California. Click on it to enlarge for a closer look.) 

...I'm looking forward to diving back into movie news and reviews! A few of the posts I have in the works are the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival announcement, a preview of TCM's December schedule, and a tribute to the late Mitzi Gaynor. Later next week look for TCM's November highlights. I'll also have a look at this year's Lone Pine Film Festival posted soon for my next Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column.

...Fantastic news from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: THE GREAT GATSBY (1949) starring Alan Ladd will have a U.S. home viewing release at long last! Kino Lorber says it's "coming soon"; the Blu-ray will be from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. It will be available as a single-title release and will also be included in the upcoming Dark Side of Cinema XXVI collection. It's great news that the Dark Side of Cinema series is going on, and on, and on. Incidentally, I'll have a review of CLOAK AND DAGGER from a recent Dark Side of Cinema collection up here in the near future!

...But wait, there's more! Kino Lorber also just announced the release of the terrific Western LAW AND ORDER (1932), which I saw at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival. Like THE GREAT GATSBY, it will be a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative.

...Other upcoming Kino Lorber Blu-ray releases include THE KILLER IS LOOSE (1953), HATARI! (1962), FOR LOVE OR MONEY (1963), and THE BALLAD OF JOSIE (1968).

...Coming to Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection in January: The great WINCHESTER '73 (1950), directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart and an incredible cast. It's a new 4K digital restoration from Universal Pictures and will include an archival commentary including comments by James Stewart; a 1951 Lux Radio Theatre production; and an essay by Imogen Sara Smith.

...Contrasting Hallmark Channel news: Business continues to boom for the network, including an upcoming cruise, but there is controversy regarding employees and actors "aging out" of working for the channel.

...The November Criterion Channel streaming schedule will include "Columbia Noir," introduced by Imogen Sara Smith and Farran Smith Nehme, and "Starring Ida Lupino."

...Recent Blu-ray reviews from CineSavant Glenn Erickson for Trailers From Hell: PANDORA'S BOX (1929) from the Criterion Collection and a Columbia Horror collection from Powerhouse Indicator in the UK.

...Coming from Lyons Press next April: FIRST WOMEN OF HOLLYWOOD: FEMALE PIONEERS IN THE EARLY MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS by Mary Mallory, whose previous books include HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS: 1920-1970. I expect to review it here next spring.

...Other recent books of interest: HOLLYWOOD SEX COMEDIES, 1953-1964: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF 25 FILMS by Hal Erickson from McFarland and PALM SPRINGS TIKI: POLYNESIA IN THE DESERT, just published by Gibbs Smith and written by Sven Kirsten and Peter Moruzzi. I have several books on mid-century Palm Springs and Los Angeles by Moruzzi which are all terrific.

...A new documentary, BOGART: LIFE COMES IN FLASHES, will have some theatrical screenings beginning in mid-November. I'll be watching for more information.

...Other new documentaries will include an upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries on the 2024 World Series; MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS, coming to Disney+ November 1st; and a National Geographic documentary on the great survival story ENDURANCE which will be available on Disney+ the first week of November. Here's the ENDURANCE trailer.

...Congratulations to Virginie Pronovost on completing a decade blogging at The Wonderful World of Cinema.

...Happy 79th birthday to former "Charlie's Angel" Jaclyn Smith. I really enjoyed her in a series of '80s TV-movies and miniseries such as JACQUELINE BOUVIER KENNEDY (1981), GEORGE WASHINGTON (1984), FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (1985), and WINDMILLS OF THE GODS (1988).

...Attention Southern Californians: I'm excited to have tickets for a 35mm showing of the rarely seen but excellent PERSONS IN HIDING (1939), a "B" film starring Patricia Morison and J. Carrol Naish, which I first saw in a poor DVD copy a decade ago. Jeremy Arnold will be presenting it at the American Cinematheque's Los Feliz Theatre on November 3rd.

...Thanks to reader Christine for alerting me that the first Los Angeles Silent Film Festival, originally slated to take place at Mt. St. Mary's University in November, has been postponed indefinitely. I'll be watching for more info on a new date.

...Coming to San Diego next month: Noirvember Nights at Cinema Under the Stars. The Friday night series kicks off with TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1948) introduced by Alan K. Rode.

...Notable Passings: Singer Jack Jones, the son of Allan Jones and Irene Hervey, has died at 86...TV's TARZAN, Ron Ely, has also passed on at 86...Writer-producer Lynda Obst has passed away at 74.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 5th column.

...And GO DODGERS!

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Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...will not appear this weekend while I'm attending a family wedding.

The column will return on Saturday, October 26th.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 5th column.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...will not appear this weekend while I'm attending the annual Lone Pine Film Festival.

The column will also not appear on October 19th due to a family wedding.

Around the Blogosphere This Week will return on Saturday, October 26th.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 5th column.

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Off to Lone Pine!

We're headed to the annual Lone Pine Film Festival today!

We're taking an extra day this year to head as far north as Bishop on Highway 395 and enjoy some of the fall colors before turning around and heading back south to Lone Pine Wednesday afternoon.

Last month I shared details on the festival's films and guests. Please click here to check out the info.

After I return from the festival posting may continue to be light here until the week of the 21st, due to a family wedding and relatives visiting from out of town. I'll be back as usual with lots of reviews and much more later this month!

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Quick Preview of TCM in November

It's time for a quick peek ahead at what's in store on Turner Classic Movies this November!

I'm quite excited about the November Star of the Month, Ruth Roman.

Roughly 20 of Roman's films will be shown on Tuesday evenings, including the TCM premiere of BELLE STARR'S DAUGHTER (1948).

Some of the great Roman films on hand next month will include THE WINDOW (1948), STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951), and TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951).

The TCM Spotlight on Wednesdays will feature suspense films, and a Special Theme on the first three Thursday evenings of the month will be the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

The Powell-Pressburger series will include the TCM premiere of the new documentary MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024).

Noir Alley films this November will be NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (1946), LE DEUXIEME SOUFFLE (1966), THE BIG COMBO (1955), TRAPPED (1949), and NAKED ALIBI (1954).

Veterans Day will be marked with a series of military-themed films on November 11th. Thanksgiving Day will be spent with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers during the daytime hours, followed by several family films in prime time. The family film lineup includes the always-welcome 20th Century-Fox film CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950).

Additional programming themes include films based on W. Somerset Maugham and Damon Runyon stories, along with winter, tropical locations, romances, Soviet Communists, San Francisco, and scientists/inventors. There will also be a day of nine MAISIE films starring Ann Sothern.

TCM will feature a memorial tribute to Gena Rowlands on November 4th. Additional filmmakers honored with multifilm tributes will include Gig Young, Esther Williams, Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Fred M. Wilcox, Dick Powell, and the team of Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo.

There are still a number of blank spots on the schedule, so stay tuned for much more on the complete November schedule here at the end of this month.

In the meantime, Bela Lugosi continues as the October Star of the Month.

Related post: Book Review: Ruth Roman: A Career Portrait.

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Tonight's Movie: Conflict (1945) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

Humphrey Bogart plays a wife murderer in the highly enjoyable CONFLICT (1945), just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

CONFLICT was scripted by Arthur T. Norman and Dwight Taylor from a story by Alfred Neumann and Robert Siodmak. Siodmak, of course, is greatly revered as a director of film noir but he did not direct CONFLICT; that job fell to Curtis Bernhardt.

It's interesting to me that a star as big as Bogart was cast in this type of role, not all that long after CASABLANCA (1942) and other heroic roles. And as a matter of fact, Bogart would again play a wife killer two years later in THE TWO MRS. CARROLLS (1947), and in both films he kills for the love of Alexis Smith.

There's also a bit of irony in that Bogart famously wed Lauren Bacall the very same year CONFLICT was released.

In CONFLICT Smith plays Bogart's young sister-in-law, Evelyn, who's clueless to the fact that Richard (Bogart) is in love with her. She begins to realize it after her sister, Richard's shrewish wife Kathryn (Rose Hobart), disappears. In the wake of Kathryn's absence, Richard is unhappy when Evelyn is courted by a handsome young professor (Charles Drake) and things get awkward very quickly.

Richard and Kathryn's friend Dr. Mark Hamilton (Sydney Greenstreet), a psychologist, becomes suspicious about Kathryn's disappearance...and meanwhile some of Kathryn's possessions begin turning up in unexpected places.

I last saw this 86-minute film way back in 2011 and was delighted to revisit it via this beautiful Blu-ray.

Everything about this film is a pleasure, from the star power of Bogart and Greenstreet to the loveliness of young Smith to the well-constructed story. This is a polished film made by pros in front of and behind the camera at Warner Bros.

As I wrote in 2011, the film is also an interesting example of the mid-'40s fascination with psychology, which was often worked into crime films.

More than that I won't say, so as not to spoil the plot. As it happens I had forgotten how it ended myself so revisiting the movie was extra-enjoyable.

CONFLICT was filmed in black and white by Merritt Gerstad. The score was composed by Frederick Hollander, orchestrated by Jerome Moross (THE BIG COUNTRY). Gown were created by Orry-Kelly.

Supporting roles are played by Grant Mitchell, Patrick O'Moore, Ed Stanley, Ann Shoemaker, and James Flavin.

I was interested to learn that Marjorie Hoshell, who plays a telephone operator in an extended sequence with Bogart, married Jeff Chandler the year after this movie. They were married for nearly eight years.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray print of CONFLICT is from a 1080p HD master from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. It looks absolutely terrific and also has excellent sound.

Disc extras consist of the trailer; the cartoons LIFE WITH FEATHERS (Sylvester & Tweety Bird, 1945) and TRAP HAPPY PORKY (Porky Pig, 1945); the shorts PEEKS AT HOLLYWOOD (1946) and ARE ANIMALS ACTORS? (1945); and a short 25-minute Theater of Romance radio production from September 1945.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Coming to Blu-ray from the Warner Archive in November: HUMORESQUE (1946), starring Joan Crawford and John Garfield.

...Also out from the Warner Archive Collection in November: Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 4, MUST LOVE DOGS (2005) with Diane Lane, and a complete THIN MAN Blu-ray set.

...Fall cookbook time: WHEN SOUTHERN WOMEN COOK is coming from America's Test Kitchen in November.

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced a November 19th release date for the Western THE LONELY MAN (1957) starring Jack Palance and Anthony Perkins. The Blu-ray will include a commentary track by Toby Roan.

...Recent movie reviews: CineSavant Glenn Erickson reviews the MGM musical WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, at Trailers From Hell...Colin reviews Gary Cooper in MAN OF THE WEST (1958) at Riding the High Country...Toby Roan recently reviewed the new Blu-ray of WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951) at his blog The Hannibal 8...Stephen reviews Jeanne Crain as MARGIE (1946) at Classic Movie Man...and Tim Salmons reviews Kino Lorber's Columbo: The Return (1989-2003) for The Digital Bits.

...Notable Passings: The appealing baseball player turned actor Drake Hogestyn, who starred on DAYS OF OUR LIVES for nearly 40 years, has sadly died of cancer at 70. I also remember him from the one-season series SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1982-83) which also starred Richard Dean Anderson, Peter Horton, and River Phoenix...GENERAL HOSPITAL star Ron Hale, who played Mike Corbin, has died at 78. Hale also starred on RYAN'S HOPE for 14 years...Barbara Leigh-Hunt, who starred in Hitchcock's FRENZY (1972), has died at 88. She played Lady Catherine in the 1995 BBC production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with Colin Firth...Singer-songwriter-actor Kris Kristofferson has passed away at 88.

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear for the next two weekends, when I'll be at the Lone Pine Film Festival and then attending a family wedding. The column will return on Saturday, October 26th.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my September 28th column.

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